Fiat Chrysler’s Attempt to Dismiss Emissions-Cheating Case Fails

Civil case in California alleges environmental violations

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV lost a bid to dismiss a lawsuit accusing it of rigging diesel-powered vehicles to dupe emissions tests, keeping the Italian-U.S. auto maker in the legal crosshairs over alleged environmental violations that have drawn comparisons to longstanding fraud at Volkswagen AG.

A federal judge late Thursday denied Fiat Chrysler’s motion to dismiss a civil case in California, ruling that owners of more than 100,000 2014-2016 Ram pickup trucks and Jeep Grand Cherokee sport-utility vehicles with diesel engines...